Why are westerners drawn to fight with IS in Syria and Iraq? And what can we do in response?

Rachel Briggs (Institute for Strategic Dialogue) and Peter Neumann (International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation) give a presentation for the COMPAS Breakfast Brefiing Series. There has been considerable media attention focusing on the security concerns that foreign fighters pose to not only Syria and Iraq, but also their countries of origin. This briefing outlines the nature and scale of the problem and unpack the motivations of Westerners that are drawn to fight alongside IS and explore their activities on the ground. It also addresses responses to this threat, which are constantly evolving. Much attention has been directed towards harder policy approaches, particularly as foreign fighters return to Europe. The briefing discusses the need for alternative approaches that go beyond prosecution.